Saints Get Run Over By Boulders In 11-3 Loss

ST. PAUL, MNMay 28, 2014

SAINTS GET RUN OVER BY BOULDERS IN 11-3 LOSS

POMONA, NY (May 28, 2014) – Even Sisyphus would think what has gone on with the St. Paul Saints during the first two games against the Rockland Boulders is ridiculous.One day after setting a franchise record for largest margin of defeat the relentless attack of the Rockland Boulders didn’t let up as the Saints lost 11-3 on Wednesday morning at Provident Bank Park.

The Saints showed a little fight at the beginning of the 10:30 a.m. eastern start as Evan Bigley singled with two outs and Henry Wrigley drilled his third homer of the season, a two-run drive over the left field wall to give the Saints a 2-0 lead.Bigley would go 2-4 with a double and two runs scored while Wrigley was 2-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.

The Boulders, however, began their 15-hit attack immediately and tied the game in the second.With one out Joe Maloney singled to short.With two outs Will Walsh walked and Justin Dalles and Matt Nadin followed with RBI singles tying the game at two.

The Saints took their final lead of the game in the fourth when Bigley doubled, moved to third on a Brandon Tripp single and scored on Jake Taylor’s sacrifice fly.The Saints would manage just two more hits after that point and three total base runners.

The Boulders, on the other hand, were just getting started.In the bottom of the fourth they took the lead for good courtesy of three Saints errors.They loaded the bases on a Joe Maloney single, Steve Nyisztor single and a hit by pitch to Will Walsh.Dalles then hit a grounder to Bonfe at third, but his throw home was high and Carlos Escobar had to jump to catch the throw allowing Maloney to score, tying the game at three. Nandin followed with a grounder to short that Joey Becker bobbled and dropped, then threw to second which wound up in right field allowing two runs to score with the two errors on one play.Saints starter Nick Barnese lasted 4.0 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out three.

The Saints bullpen didn’t fare much better as Jon Plefka (two runs in 2.0 innings) and Ryan Bollinger (four runs in 2.0 innings) were hit around over the final 4.0 innings of the game.The Saints failed to retire the side in order and have now gone 17 consecutive innings without doing so.

The Saints committed four errors and have now made seven in the last two games.They entered play on Wednesday tied for the third most errors in the American Association.

The final game of the three game series is Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. eastern/6:00 p.m. central at Provident Bank Park.The Saints send RHP Jeff Shields (1-1, 2.08) to the mound against Boulders RHP Jeff Law (0-0, 0.00).The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.